Getting Spoiled

Another beautiful Saturday in August with partly sunny skies and highs just reaching to 80 degrees; this is the most pleasant August I can remember, and I’ve lived here for decades. The only time I felt a little too warm was during stopping drills in the hospital lot; for the rest of the ride, I was cool and comfortable.

The sun hid behind clouds for most of the ride which helped keep it cool and comfortable. Lots of people were out catching up on yardwork to take advantage of the day. And I spotted a number of butterflies enjoying the day including a monarch that drifted across a foot in front of my visor. One of the butterflies I saw was another monarch hanging out over the lantana bushes where I spotted one last week; I wondered if it was the same one hanging out.

During one of my U-turns, I spotted what I think was a banded hairstreak down close to the road. As we rode further up the road, I spotted another one. But then I wondered if it was the same butterfly and it had hitchhiked a ride up the road. Of course, it wasn’t, but it was a fun thought to have.

My ride went smoothly and my skills practice went well, so I had time to admire the butterflies I saw, including a black swallowtail that flew up next to me. I spotted a few more monarchs, and I noted that they seem to fly by drifting along, whereas the cabbage white butterflies seem to almost buzz with energy as they move about. I was noting a lack of the cabbage whites from the past few rides, but I spotted one on the drive home, so there are still a few fluttering about.

As I zoomed up the road, I noted more colored leaves fallen on the berm. Even as autumn grows closer, I saw flower buds on the young magnolias. I haven’t seen anyone with mums out yet, but I have noticed more of the twice-blooming azaleas with flowers. I am looking forward to fall, but I am sure enjoying the end of summer and these beautiful days are spoiling me.

orange and black monarch butterfly resting on yellow lantana flowers — Photo by Garuda on Pexels.com

A Ride with Butterflies

Sunshine with a high of 72 for the day, and the butterflies loved it. Our little garage cabbage white fluttered by as we geared up, but he was just the beginning. My motorcycle odometer showed 2221, so Bill wanted me to take the lead and pull over when it turned over to 2222. I led us down the curvy road and learned shadows on the road can hide hidden dangers that I had to swerve to avoid (divots in the road from the construction equipment or a hidden sewer plate). I got to see the clump of yellow Japanese irises; usually I only see the Japanese iris in purple. And I hope to see the bald eagle, but I didn’t have that kind of luck.

We did get to see an osprey rising from the river and heading back to the nest with a snack for its chick. And I did spot a family of Canadian geese with five or six goslings. But what I saw mostly during our ride was butterflies. I counted thirty-one cabbage whites out enjoying the day, two ceraunus blue butterflies, a tiger swallowtail, what I think was a banded hairstreak, and a bright orange butterfly that may have been a question mark butterfly as we packed up the car.

Clearly, butterflies love roses, irises, and day lilies as I saw even more in bloom. And there is honeysuckle and the clean, fresh scent of magnolia blossoms for the butterflies to enjoy. I was right there with them, enjoying the cool air; it was a day made both for motorcycles and butterflies.

My experience with the shadows on the road made me appreciate more having Bill in the lead. Being in front requires more awareness as I’m the first to encounter obstacles such as the mail truck pulling out into our lane as we came around a curve. After the 2222 mile check, I let Bill retake the lead and focused on my riding. I did a little bit of target fixation swerving, but I was too busy counting butterflies to do too many. My on-street U-turns were all roadway, and my sudden stops went really well. I had two hitches, though. One was when I somehow had my left foot out of place on the foot peg and couldn’t find the shifter. It took me two tries before my toes finally got where they needed to be, but I didn’t panic. I used the clutch to help slow the bike with the rear brake. The second hitch was when I thought I had shifted up to fourth gear (which I had), so I didn’t downshift fully and left a stop in second gear. The R Nine T have a shudder but it didn’t stall, so I recovered nicely.

I don’t know how many more days we’ll have such wonderful weather or such wonderful company with the butterflies and birds. But I do know, I’ll be out next week riding to find out.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms who read this.

One and a Half Butterfly Ride

It was a beautiful day for riding motorcycles—sunny and highs in the upper 70s, so I set off expecting to see lots of butterflies enjoying the day. But it was more of a squirrely day than a day of butterflies, another sign of autumn.

As we rode, I was on the lookout for butterflies, but the flutterings I spotted were leaves falling. The maples are showing their fall colors, but most of the trees are still in green leaf. I spotted some more mums planted for the season, but mostly what I saw were more Halloween decorations out as we have officially entered October.

We had our first squirrel encounter half a block into the ride. This guy was smart enough to stay near the curb and hop up onto the grass as we rode past. I worked on staying smooth with my engine braking, and I was very successful. We did work on some slow-speed maneuvers including U-turns and fast braking. I kept my ABS shudder to a little bit at the end; I need to work on releasing and the reapplying the brakes as I come to the sudden stop to eliminate the ABS shudder entirely. My practice got put to good use as I had to come to a sudden slow down due to two indecisive squirrels bickering in the middle of the road.

I spotted a cabbage white more than halfway into the ride enjoying the second bloom azaleas. As few as the butterfly sightings were, they were more plentiful than the Canadian geese. I didn’t spot a single goose during our ride which is very unusual. I mention the half butterfly because I did catch a quick glimpse of a tiny summer azure butterfly. These butterflies are tiny, as I spotted one when I got home and was unloading the gear.

As my fall rides continue, I’ll see more and more leaves and less and less butterflies. One of the bittersweet truths of seasonal change—loss and gain. At least our rides will be more comfortably cool, and I’m sure I’ll see even more Halloween decorations go up in the next few weeks.

Half giant skeleton appearing out of ground — Some of the seasonal decor I spotted on my ride.

Just a Pleasant Ride and a Butterfly First

I wasn’t feeling well this Saturday morning so, despite the warm day of mid-80s and sunshine, we delayed our ride until I was feeling more up to it. We opted out of the Alpinestars for the heat, and Bill planned on a short ride since I wasn’t 100%. We set out to cruise the neighborhoods and enjoy the day.

As we headed out, Bill didn’t lead us up to the twisty road which surprised me. But because of the detour away from the twisties, I spotted my first cabbage white butterfly of the ride. And because we had to take a second detour to get away from some slow-moving traffic, that little butterfly flew right across my path. I would see four more cabbage whites during my ride, all enjoying this summer flashback day. I find it interesting that the cabbage whites are the first butterflies I see in the spring and seem to be the last butterflies in the fall.

There are more mums out now and the dual bloom azaleas are in full flower. I even spotted a small cluster of white blossoms defiantly blooming in a row of crape myrtles who already had red and yellow leaves. I also spotted some clematis blooming, so there are plenty of flowers to tempt the butterflies. It was around one of the azaleas that I saw my first ever eastern-tailed blue butterfly. It was a little more black than blue, but the white markings on the wings helped me to identify it.

I enjoyed cruising along, feeling the breeze, and seeing the sights. I did start to feel tired toward the end of the ride, so we did cut the ride shorter. But a short ride is still a ride and so much fun!

Eastern-tailed blue butterfly — Photo by TheWonderOfLife on Pexels.com

Sunday Funday Ride

A rainy Saturday morning postponed our usual ride until Sunday with the weather bringing us a spectacular day for riding—sunny and comfortable with temperatures in the low 70s. Another indication summer is ending, and autumn is arriving.

Because it was Sunday our day to relax, we took a relaxed approach to the ride. No slow speed or tricky maneuvers; just cruising about and enjoying the sights. There was a rather ominous start to our ride. As we mounted the motorcycles to begin, a turkey buzzard was circling close above us. I snapped a picture of the bird which seemed no more than twenty feet above us, but I couldn’t focus the camera too well in my helmet, so the buzzard looks too small in the frame. I’ll just point out that the buzzard was close enough to us that I looked around for what it might be seeking to snack on. Luckily for me, I didn’t spot anything.

The buzzard floating above us as we got started but soon spiraled out of sight. I spied some harvest themed decorations—scarecrow and small pumpkins. One person with a sense of humor had a skeleton set out on his steps waving at passersby. These decorations were spotted early in the ride, and I was hopeful I would see more. But it is too early in September and too far from Halloween for most people to decorate. There are more and more political candidate signs appearing, but those aren’t very much fun.

I was happily surprised to see a number of butterflies out on this Sunday afternoon. I even pondered if butterflies and nature in general “slept in” on Sundays. My first butterfly encounter was with a low-flying black swallowtail that passed by in front of the car windshield as I drove over to the garage. I actually hit my brakes to keep the butterfly off my windshield. I then spotted a yellow Sulphur flying over my parents’ yard as we unloaded the gear.

During the ride, I saw three cabbage white butterflies along the curvy road. I then spotted what I think was an Atlantis fritillary butterfly before spying another black swallowtail. One tiny butterfly flew up by my helmet, and from the coloring I think it might have been a ceraunus blue butterfly, but it went by too fast to see the black spot. I saw a couple more yellow Sulphurs and began wondering if I’d ever in my life seen a pink butterfly. There is a species called the pink-edged Sulphur and a phaon crescent butterfly, but I don’t think I’ve ever spotted one.

I enjoyed my relaxing, butterfly-filled ride. I know I soon won’t see any butterflies until next spring, so I’m glad they seemed to be out in force during this ride. And I look forward to whatever sights I can see next week as I ride.

Turkey buzzard circling above in a blue sky — An ominous sign that contradicts the beauty of my ride.

Leaning In

Warm sunshine with only wispy clouds in the sky greeted us for our weekend ride. The weather was so ideal for riding, a biker gang, the Mutineers, passed us as we drove over to the garage. There were five guys in their jeans and leather vests with their Mutineers logo emblazoned on the back. They were riding two abreast which is really not a good idea, and they used hand signals for their lane changes and the exit ramp.

Hand signals are from the days when motorcycles didn’t have turn indicators. Bill’s first Harley didn’t have turn indicators. But as I watched the gang go past, I realized too that the hand signals serve as a command cue, similar to hand signals in the military, to lead the group. The biker in the front right corner was the first to raise his right fist, bent elbow in the sign for a right turn, and the group followed. Now their motorcycles could have been old enough to predate indicators; as they were passing me at about 70 mph, it was hard to get a good look at the bikes, but from the sound, I’m pretty sure they were all Harleys.

My mind wandered from the hand signals to the communication devices available to riders. But I liked the old school way of communicating with the hand signals. While there is a convenience to being able to speak directly to a riding partner, there is something meditative about riding with only my thoughts in my head. I also enjoy the training I get from having to watch and follow Bill’s leadership, working on my reaction speed for quick stops like the one for the indecisive young squirrel.

Like the biker gang, I was wearing jeans today. Of course, my jeans are Klim reinforced riding jeans, baggy enough to house the protective gear, not sleek fitting Levis. I was more comfortable in the jeans on this 80-degree day, only getting hot during slow speed, parking lot maneuvers. But I was focused on my lean in the U-turns. As I completed my second on-street U-turn, I felt myself leaning into the turn, and I liked it.

I’m not saying I have never leaned the motorcycle in a U-turn before. However, for some reason during this ride, I really felt the lean, and I had no fear of it. So as we turned around in the cul de sacs, I worked on feeling the lean as an aspect of tightening the turns, and I continued to work with it.

I also worked on my trail braking into the curves and the fast stop and start. I had one really wobbly fast stop that caused me to throw both feet onto the pavement, but the rest of the stops went well. Bill talked to me about working on stopping without forcing the anti-lock brakes on, so that will be for next week.

Since the sun was shining, I saw plenty of butterflies, including my first encounter with an aggressive black swallowtail that flew at me before heading off to more natural colors. And there were plenty of lovely colors especially the day lilies that are flourishing right now. I saw yellows, oranges, and a vibrant flame-colored one. The hydrangeas are colorful, flowering balls of light blues, whites, and purples.

In a quiet cul de sac, I spotted a great blue heron hunting in the shallows. He looked over at us hearing the roar of our engines, watching in perfect stillness, before deciding we weren’t a threat. The Canadian geese were more offended as we rode past, as they should’ve been as Bill was using the Rocket to herd them off the road. And just as I despaired of seeing any birds of prey, an osprey soared up into view. That’s one of the many fun aspects of heading out for a ride; there’s always a surprise around the next corner if you’re looking for it. And I will be out again looking next week.

Black swallowtail butterfly in clover — I captured this image of a black swallowtail butterfly the day before my ride.

Butterfly Blessed Ride

The rain defeated us on Saturday, so we crossed our fingers that the windy Sunday forecasted would dry out the roads and allow us to ride. By waiting until the early afternoon, we were able to get our ride in.

As we drove over to pick up the motorcycles, I noticed several cabbage white butterflies flitting about, enjoying the sunshine after Saturday’s rain. I was hopeful to see some during the ride, but I was surprised when I spotted one down by the R Nine T while I was putting on my gear. I grabbed my phone to try and get a photo of the butterfly right above the bike, but by the time I had the phone in hand, the butterfly had flitted its way across the street and into someone’s backyard. I still got to see the butterfly drawn in by the bright yellow and red colors of the motorcycles, so I was smiling even without a photo.

The butterfly blessing came a few moments later. Bill and I had mounted the bikes, and I was waiting for the tether check. Recently, Bill has taken to tugging on the attached tether for his Helite airbag vest while looking over for me to do the same. This check ensures we both have the vests attached which means, should either of us go flying off the motorcycle, the airbag will deploy. While I waited I naturally was looking toward Bill on the Rocket. I noted a shadow on the ground and thought it was the butterfly flying over us. When I glanced back, there was the little cabbage white, blessing complete, off to find actual colorful flowers to play among.

Off we went on a shortened ride. I had been ill all week and was just starting to recover, so the ride was shortened to keep me from overdoing it. Due to the shorter ride and the massive road equipment, we skipped the curvy road. Our first U-turns were the in-street turns, and I was as successful as lasts week in staying on the pavement. I again marveled at the balance of the R Nine T with its low-slung boxer engine as I worked my turns throughout the ride. The roads were drier than last week, so I did work in the gravel lot, almost completing a U-turn inside the large wooden beams that mark off the handicap parking. Next week I will try the full turn inside the beams.

My stops into restarts got better though I realized I’m not stopping hard enough. Bill wants me to stop hard enough to feel the anti-lock brakes shudder. I wasn’t stopping that hard.

My hopes of seeing more butterflies weren’t realized. I did see another cabbage white moving among the camellias toward the end of my ride. I was surprised to see some azaleas already in bloom; I guess they liked the mild winter and all the rain we’ve had. Usually I see the azaleas blooming after the cherry trees, and I suppose the majority of them will, but it is a fun sign of spring to see some azaleas alongside the sugar magnolias, apple blossoms, daffodils, and forsythia. Of course, the best part of spring and summer will be the butterflies.

Sugar magnolia blossoms under sunshine and clouds

Butterflies and Bikes

Do you ever watch the flight of a butterfly? How it seems to bounce along in the air in seeming randomness? Yet it flits between flowers and moves purposefully along the blossoms as it feeds. I have always enjoyed watching a butterfly bounce along especially from the car as the winds buffet it about. On my motorcycle the flight of the butterfly is magnified because on a motorcycle, you are out in the air with the butterfly. A part of me imagines a collision with the helmet, but the larger part of me enjoys the feeling of freedom I’m sharing with the butterfly, out moving in the wind.

A monarch butterfly breezed past me on my very first ride on my G310 GS. Today it was a swallowtail butterfly. I love seeing the butterflies flitting about as I circle around my parking lot. They’ve made such an impression on me, that I thought of naming this Butterflies and Bikes. They are a fitting symbol for how I picture my riding—a carefree adventure out in nature.

I’m not there yet, but today I felt a confidence on the bike greater than any I had felt before. I breezed through my “box turns” and my “S turns,” not once feeling a near loss of control of the bike. It was rather warm out especially with me wearing my jeans and Klim jacket, so I was cruising up to third gear and hitting 20 mph to stay cool. My boyfriend set out the slalom for me and I had near perfect runs sitting and standing. So we upped the ante and did the offset slalom.

This week we’ve been watching videos of the BMW GS trophy qualifying rounds, amazed at the challenges the bikers face and get through. Their balance and control of the bike is amazing. And watching them turn on the offset slaloms inspired me to give it a try this week. I started off OK turning through the first 3 cones well. But my downfall was the last 3 cones; I couldn’t set up my entry well. So I drove by them and circled back around to try again.

About my fifth attempt, I realized that I was not using my body in the turns and that I was using too much front brake. I told myself to relax, focus on using my body, and let the friction zone help. I made it through all 6 cones, set up again, did it again, and went for the third time which was the charm and I was successful. Bill even commented on how I shouldn’t use the front brake, just the clutch and rear brake.

What I especially enjoyed realizing was that even as I fought the bike to get through the offset, I did not have any fear of falling. As I moved through the offset, I was moving freely, just as the butterfly moves freely in the wind.

I dreamed I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky; then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man?
Zhuangzi
“Zhuangzi Quotes.” BrainyQuote, Xplore, https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/zhuangzi_393083.